Off the wire
• (BRF) 1st LD-Writethru: Belarus an important partner in Belt and Road: Xi  • (BRF) 1st Ld-Writethru: Xi calls for deeper cooperation with Laos  • Indian gov't advises sensitive fields to use stand-alone computers to avoid ransomeware attacks  • Chinese shares close higher Tuesday  • Olympic figure skater Tong Jian finds success in post-competitive life  • (BRF) China calls for faster free trade negotiation with GCC  • (BRF) 1st LD-Writethru: China, Kyrgyzstan leaders pledge more bilateral cooperation  • 1st LD Writethru: 2 civilians killed as rocket fired by Taliban hits Afghan eastern city  • Afghan forces dislodge Taliban from district: official  • China, EU start 13th round of BIT negotiations  
You are here: 　 Home

2nd LD Writethru: UN Security Council slams attacks on blue helmets in Central African Republic

Xinhua, May 16, 2017 Adjust font size:

The United Nations Security Council on Monday "condemned in the strongest terms" a deadly attack over the weekend on UN peacekeepers, civilians and humanitarian workers in the Central African Republic (CAR), which killed one Moroccan peacekeeper.

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the violence by anti-Balaka elements in Bangassou (Mbomou) which intensified on May 13 and May 14, 2017, and targeted a Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) field office, civilian populations from particular communities, as well as humanitarian personnel," said a press statement issued by the 15-nation UN body.

"These attacks resulted in one Moroccan peacekeeper killed and one Moroccan peacekeeper injured, as well as civilian casualties and significant population displacement," the statement said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday strongly condemned attacks against the civilian population and UN peacekeepers in the CAR, urging authorities to investigate and bring those responsible to justice.

The council members expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the Kingdom of Morocco and MINUSCA, the statement said. "They wished the injured a speedy recovery."

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms all attacks and provocations against civilian populations, MINUSCA and humanitarian personnel by armed groups," the statement said.

"They reiterated that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council called on the government of the Central African Republic to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice," it said.

Last week, a Christian rebel group in the CAR ambushed a UN convoy, sparking a firefight and kidnappings that left four peacekeepers killed, eight injured and one missing, the United Nations said.

Despite significant progress and successful elections, the CAR still suffers instability and sporadic unrest.

Clashes between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia, mostly Christian, plunged the country of 4.5 million people into civil conflict in 2013. Endi